My friend Kirsten recently took the T.C.R.G. exam--a rigorous, 3 day exam to become a certified Irish step dancing instructor. She found out on Monday that she passed on her first try! With only about a 30% pass rate, that's quite an accomplishment, and something to be celebrated! I couldn't let the opportunity pass, and the timing, just before St. Patrick's day, couldn't have been better.

Thanks to the time of year, I found Bells of Ireland flowers and real shamrocks at my local Trader Joe's. A bunch of hydrangea and a few sprays of white roses, and I had a dramatic, beautiful, thematic floral arrangement.

I made sugar cookies with Irish step dancing soft shoes, and also made a cookie that looked like each of the school and solo dresses she wore during her years of competition. It was so fun to watch her face when she realized what the cookies were!

A cake with the Bracken School of Irish Dance's logo, Irish soda bread, a pot full of golden caramel corn, and rainbow lollipops filled out the rest of the table. I used all crystal serving dishes (waterford, when I had it), and covered the table with crocheted tablecloths that evoked the classic crocheted collars of many Irish step dancing dresses.